Dr Elise Needham

Senior Therapeutics Commercialisation Specialist, Targeted Translation Research Accelerator (TTRA) Program

Dr Elise Needham is steering new therapeutics development with MTPConnect’s Targeted Translation Research Accelerator (TTRA) program for cardiovascular diseases and diabetes complications. For this role she is seconded to CSL Limited.

Previously Elise was with BioCurate and Genesis Ventures at the University of Melbourne, for the evaluation and development of high potential life sciences investments. For over 10 years, Elise worked for global biopharmaceutical companies, Boehringer Ingelheim in Germany in the cardiovascular and immunology areas, and Bristol Myers Squibb in an immunology medical role. She was also Commercial Manager at Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute.

In 2022, Elise founded an online health education business for evidence-based prevention and reduction of cardiometabolic diseases. Early in her career, Elise co-founded an award-winning business that developed online testing for laboratory safety, acquired by Chemical Safety International.

Elise has a Bachelor of Science (Honours) from Monash University, a PhD in medical research and a Graduate Diploma in Intellectual Property Law, both from the University of Melbourne. Her PhD research identified the function of the Alzheimer’s disease amyloid precursor protein as an essential modulator of glucose and insulin regulation, thereby extending into the diabetes field. Elise is also a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.